Real-Life Grand Theft Auto 5 Cars You Didn't Know Existed (2024)

Whether it be in the real or the digital world, automakers have copyrights on their brand name and model titles. Grand Theft Auto 5 has become so popular, however, that the designers at Rockstar have been consistently updating their virtual showrooms. Despite launching way back in 2013, GTA 5 still keeps relatively up to date, with virtual imitations of the most desirable and exclusive supercars. Some of the in-game cars are fairly easily recognized, whereas some are much more obscure than others, but gearheads online have deciphered the real-world inspiration for almost every car in GTA 5. We're going to go over all the best cars in GTA 5 that are based off of real world counterparts, whether they're the fastest ones or the most capable ones, we've got them covered.

The Bravado Buffalo STX Is A 2016 Dodge Charger

Real Life Versus The Game

There are two Buffalos in the world of GTA. The STX, however, is the more modern, up-to-date version of the latest (and outgoing) Dodge Charger. In the game, you can upgrade it to have armored cladding and a homing missile jammer. In real life, they're police cars, family sedans or muscle cars with a massive HEMI V8. It's one of the scarcer cars in the game as it'll cost you $2.1 million. That's even more than the end of the line Jailbreak Charger.

The Canis Terminus Is A 2017 Jeep Wrangler

Real Life Versus The Game

If you're not familiar with the game, there is plenty of off-roading to do in the hills of Mount Chiliad and the rest of San Andreas. Therefore, developers decided to give players a version of the most recent Jeep Wrangler called the Canis Terminus. The top speed is listed at 91 MPH for the Canis Terminus, but just like in real life, these stats can be manipulated with modifications. Tuning this Jeep can make it one of the best free roam cars in the game.

The Declasse Impaler SZ Is A 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS

Real Life Versus The Game

The Chevrolet Impala SS dupe, the Declasse Impaler SZ, is almost identical in every way. Right down to the "Impaler SZ" name and the look of it in its entirety. You can customize your Impaler to boast a two-tone paint job and customize the wheels to match. The real life version is much faster than the games by a good 50 MPH, and costs over $1 million less. $10,000 is a lot easier to come by in GTA 5, so it makes sense that the asking prices are somewhat north of real-world figures.

The Declasse Vigero ZX Is A 2016 Chevrolet Camaro

Real Life Versus The Game

It is interesting that Rockstar decided to keep the Chevrolet's under one name: Declasse. We're not sure if that's a dig at the name brand itself, but regardless, the Vigero is almost a copy cat of the Chevrolet Camaro right down to the shape of the steering wheel on the interior. The only difference, is that it doesn't cost anywhere close to $2.29 million dollars in real life, and the top speed is somehwat shy of the real model's 180 MPH.

The Dominator GT Is A Sixth Generation Ford Mustang

Real Life Versus The Game

For Rockstar's imitation of the Mustang GT, the Dominator GT, they skirted copyright infringement with the turn signal colored tail lamp as well as the additional one towards the piano gloss black bar across the back. Apart from these small tweaks, the front end is nearly identical, right down to the headlamps. The grille is much wider and larger than the Mustang itself, but the fact that they referred to it as a GT and gave it a GT badge on the back shows how bold Rockstar is, when it comes to imitating current muscle cars.

The Fathom FR36 Is A 2006 Infiniti G35 Sports Coupe

Real Life Versus The Game

We were excited to see the Infiniti G35's GTA 5 counterpart finally uploaded to the lexicon of vehicles. The FR36 (clever change of one number and letter closest to G) looks less like a G35 in the back. The taillamps could be considered similar, but the front end is where this virtual sports car is most recognizable as the G35, with the teardrop headlight signature and rectangular grille. We're not sure how well you can slide one around in GTA, but the G35 can certainly drift in real life.

The Gallivanter Baller ST-D Is A 2015 Range Rover

Real Life Versus The Game

The Gallivanter is gallivanting around as a L460 Range Rover. Like the Mustang and Camaro doppleganger, this virtual Range Rover is so closely designed to the L460 that even the wheels are identical in the double spoke design. Even though the top of the line Range Rover might not be $1.7 million, the top of the line price tag of $371,000 sure feels like it.

The Obey Widebody 10F Is A Third Generation Audi R8

Real Life Versus The Game

In the game, the Obey 10F, is rear-wheel drive, has 7 gears and boasts a top speed of 128 MPH. In real life, the Audi R8 is also available with rear-wheel drive (although much more commonly found packing the famous Quattro all-wheel drive system), also has a 7-speed transmission, and has an insane top speed of 203 MPH. The pricing system of GTA doesn't make any sense, however. How can a Dodge Charger be in the millions, but the R8 copy only garners half a million dollars?

The Ocelot Virtue Is A 2020 Lotus Evija

Real Life Versus The Game

You can actually get the Virtue for free in the game by completing several different missions. In real life, however, it'll cost you $2.3 million. If you don't complete the missions to get it for free, it'll cost you $2.9 million, which is actually the closest to the real life price out of most of the vehicles. Like the Lotus Evija, the Virtue is also electric and all-wheel drive.

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The Progren GP1 Is A McLaren F1

Real Life Versus The Game

If you're a GTA fan, you know that the GP1 is an iconic McLaren carbon copy that has been in the game for a while. If you're an automotive fan in real life, you know that the McLaren F1 was the pinnacle of hypercars in the early 90s and 2000s. If you can believe it, the most valuable F1 sold recently for a cool $20 million.

The Übermacht Rhinehart Is A BMW M3 Touring

Real Life Versus The Game

The Rockstar developers are obviously automotive enthusiasts. That's why, when they heard the news of the fact that the US is still not getting a M3 Touring, they decided to make it a reality in their game world. The funniest design quirk is that the Rhineheart's taillamps are flipped upside down, compared to the actual BMW.

The Karin Vivanite Is A Toyota Sienna

Real Life Versus The Game

Your eyes do not deceive you. Rockstar has implemented something as mundane as a Toyota Sienna. If you're in a life or death bank robbery, and you need a 7-passenger vehicle, the Karin Vivanite might be your vehicle. We actually like the way the Vivanite looks at the front end compared to the real life Sienna, the aggressive bumper resembles what a GR Sienna could look like.

Sources: Toyota, Nissan, Dodge, Lotus, McLaren, BMW, Audi, Land Rover, Infiniti, Ford, Chevrolet, Jeep, GTA Base, Kelley Blue Book